Scientists are reporting this week detailed evidence for vast amounts of water ice just beneath the surface of Mars. The finding, which confirms preliminary data released earlier this year, should help answer an age-old question regarding where ancient Mars’ water went, and it is likely to fuel greater interest in probing the Red Planet for signs of life. The new data, provided by the Mars Odyssey spacecraft, will be reported in Friday’s issue of the journal Science. The findings were embargoed for release Thursday afternoon, but some news outlets in the U.S. and Britain reported on them last week and over the weekend. The journal lifted the embargo this morning.